implicit meaning in Surat Yusuf of the Glorious Quran: pragmatic perspective

Abstract

Implicit meaning is a sort of meaning that is not overtly identified in a communication. This definition gives rise to a problem of fragmentation. Thus, this paper aims to delimit the range of implicit meaning and to shed light on its types and devices utilized to express this meaning, detecting the functions behind the hidden meaning. Applying Larson’s (1984) and Verschueren’s (1999) approaches, eight extracts are selected from Surat Yusuf to be analyzed in terms of implicit meaning used. The paper concludes that implicit meaning is not a fixed entity; it can be molded and remodeled in the linguistic interaction and consequently its functions vary according to the situation in which they occur. Furthermore, implicit meaning appears to function as focusing on new information, avoiding redundancy and repetition, demanding politeness, suspense and motivation, using ironically and metaphorically, avoiding discomfort, and giving more explanation for the sake of warning or intimacy.